For some kids in Christian County, Christmas came early Wednesday night as they got to ride with a law enforcement officer and go shopping during the 2018 Shop with a Cop.
Twenty-seven local children got to team up with an officer and ride in a vehicle with the lights and sirens going, before getting down to business with shopping at Walmart in Hopkinsville. Christian County Sheriff-Elect Tyler DeArmond says he’s participated in this event for 13 years now and he loves ringing in the Christmas season with these kids while building good relationships.
He says the kids shop for their family members—not themselves—not realizing that Santa will be waiting with bags full of presents for them when they get done.
Once the presents are purchased, the officers and their charges go back to the War Memorial Building where all the presents get wrapped and pizza gets eaten. Then Santa arrives and hands out presents and plenty of Christmas cheer.
The kids are selected through the Christian County Public Schools Resource Centers, which evaluate the need in kids who may be struggling not only financially, but emotionally in some way. Agencies participated from all over, including the Hopkinsville Police Department, Christian County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Campbell Military Police, Trigg County law enforcement and the Christian County Jail.
